TORONTO - SGK, a division of Matthews International and a leading global brand development, activation and deployment provider that drives brand performance, announced today that Eric Ashworth, will present “Winning on the Digital Shelf” at the Food & Consumer Products of Canada’s (FCPC) National Sales Symposium, May 12, 2015, in Toronto.

Food & Consumer Products of Canada is Canada’s largest industry association representing the companies that manufacture and distribute the vast majority of food, beverage and consumer goods found on grocery store shelves. The FCPC National Sales Symposium will focus on industry trends, shopper insights and leadership skills.

Ashworth will address this elite group of multinational and Canadian-owned grocery product manufacturers, packaging industry leaders and sales executives on why brands must start looking at online not simply as another sales channel, but as a way to truly connect with consumers.

He will ask brand owners to display more urgency in responding to the special needs and expectations of the estimated $1.5 trillion global B2C (business-to-consumer) market with innovative packaging that understands and respects the new consumer paradigm.

“Brand experiences change with e-commerce, and progressive brand owners are rethinking their business models to adapt,” said Eric Ashworth. “Merchandising, distribution and packaging are areas of opportunity for every brand to take advantage of and be able to tell a more cohesive, and more importantly ‘consumer direct’ brand story.”

“People are buying more items online, and that creates a change in the relationship with the brand,” continued Ashworth. “Changes in the traditional retail environment, from physical-to-digital, create a new frontier for brand design and storytelling – brands that are ready to adapt their packaging strategy have a chance to gain greater share of a rapidly growing market.”

Ashworth concluded: “Brands owe it to themselves to leverage product packaging in a way that will create unique and memorable new consumer experiences for online shoppers that will nurture brand loyalty, inspire action and drive brand performance.”

A passionate believer in the power of thought leadership to drive business forward, Eric Ashworth is a dynamic, sought-after speaker whose insights on developing brands provoke conversation and debate. Eric holds a B.S. degree from San Francisco State University and an M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco. Additionally, he has served as a guest lecturer on brand strategy at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to coming to SGK, Eric served as Chief Marketing Officer for Fitch Worldwide and served in senior brand management positions at The Clorox Company, Levi Strauss and Colgate-Palmolive.